Burial apparatus



(No Model.)

G. H. CLARK. BURIAL APPARATUS.

No. 441,937. Patnted Dec. 2, 1890 Iva/awn Geo.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HARVEY CLARK, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,937, dated December 2, 1890.

Application filed July '7, 1890. Serial No. 357,969. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HARVEY CLARK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burial apparatus;

and it consists of a cover for the grave having hinged doors operating Vertically with means for operating them so that they may be held in a horizontal plane to completely conceal the grave-opening prior to the lowering of the coffin, and may be operated to extend vertically while the coffin is being lowered and the grave is being filled.

The invention includes also the details, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the cover with the doors in posi tion while the grave is beingfilled. Fig. 2 is a perspective view representing the position of the covers while the coffin is being lowered.

In the drawings, A represents a rectangular frame adapted to be placed over the graveopening, and having at its opposite inner edges doors b 11 adapted to close the space a within the frame. These doors are hung upon double-acting spring-hinges 'i, so that they can be controlled to assume ahorizontal position, or may be swung upwardly or downwardly into a vertical position, the hinge acting normally to hold the doors horizontally. An opcrating-rope fhas its ends attached to the doors on either side, and passing around sheave f extends through a plate K on the frame, with its central looped portion k in convenient position to be operated by hand. A central bar extending across the opening in the plat, as at Z, prevents the cord from being displaced and dropping into the grave. The frame is also provided at its inner edges adjacent to the doors with catches of any ordinary form.

- c 0 represent slots through which the lowering-bands d pass, and at g is shown in dotted lines supportingbars upon which the coffin rests over the opening prior to its being lowered through the cover into the grave. These bars when not in use are held and carried in elongated sockets h formed in the frame.

The use of the apparatus will be obvious, it being placed over the grave-opening and the doors being operated and held in horizontal position by the spring-hinges and catches to form a complete cover and conceal the graveopening prior to the arrival of the body. The coffin is placed upon the transverselypositioned bars g and thus supported above the doors during the burial ceremony, after which the doors are lowered,as in Fig. 2, the bars g are removed, and the cofifin is deposited in the grave by the lowering-straps (Z. During the filling of the grave the doors are positioned, as in Fig. 1, one of them being elevated to screen the opening, and the other being thrown back to allow the workman to throw in the earth. A small hook at may be used to retain the door in its elevated position.

While I prefer to use two doors, as shown, one may be used of larger size, if desired, it being essential, however, that it be hung with double-acting hinges, and that the various operating devices be employed in connection therewith when the grave is to be filled with dirt. For graves not to be filled, and when family and relatives retire at the conclusion of the religious or other ceremony, straphinges may be used that allow the door or doors to open into the grave, but not to open above the grave. Doors may be attached to the inside of the frame on the sides or on the ends, and one or more doors may be used.

While I have wire frames made to fit the doors to be filled with flowers or evergreens, panel-doors may be used and answer the same purpose.

\Vhen strap -hinges are used, they are screwed on the under side of the door or doors. The joint of the hinge is placed a convenient distance from the inside of the bottom of the frame, so when the doors are open the doors will swing back to such distance, leaving the aperture clear.

In using the grave-concealer with straphinges the posts used with double -acting 5" 1. In combination With the open central looped portion extending up through 7 I'5 the frameand around sheaves ffisubstantially as described.

3. In combination, the rectangular frame, the hinged door, with means for operati mg the same, said frame having slots 0 c, and the lowering-band (Z, all substantially as described.

at. In combination, the frame having the hinged door, with means for operating the same, the bars g, and the sockets It for holdin; said bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HARVEY CLARK.

I Witnesses:

RoBT. T. DEVLIN, WM. H. DEVLIN. 

